The molecular action of juvenile hormone (JH), a regulator of vital importance to insects, was until recently regarded as a mystery. The past few years have seen an explosion of studies of JH signaling, sparked by a finding that a JH-resistance gene, Methoprene-tolerant (Met), plays a critical role in insect metamorphosis. Here, we summarize the recently acquired knowledge on the capacity of Met to bind JH, which has been mapped to a particular ligand-binding domain, thus establishing this bHLH-PAS protein as a novel type of an intracellular hormone receptor. Next, we consider the significance of JH-dependent interactions of Met with other transcription factors and signaling pathways. We examine the regulation and biological roles of genes acting downstream of JH and Met in insect metamorphosis. Finally, we discuss the current gaps in our understanding of JH action and outline directions for future research.

Biology Center Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic 37005 Ceske Budejovice Czech Republic

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The embryonic role of juvenile hormone in the firebrat, Thermobia domestica, reveals its function before its involvement in metamorphosis

The embryonic role of juvenile hormone in the firebrat, Thermobia domestica, reveals its function before its involvement in metamorphosis

Steroid receptor coactivator TAIMAN is a new modulator of insect circadian clock

Evolution of proteins involved in the final steps of juvenile hormone synthesis

Unique peptidic agonists of a juvenile hormone receptor with species-specific effects on insect development and reproduction

Purification of an insect juvenile hormone receptor complex enables insights into its post-translational phosphorylation

Epoxidation of juvenile hormone was a key innovation improving insect reproductive fitness

Approaches and Tools to Study the Roles of Juvenile Hormones in Controlling Insect Biology

Common structural features facilitate the simultaneous identification and quantification of the five most common juvenile hormones by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry

Where did the pupa come from? The timing of juvenile hormone signalling supports homology between stages of hemimetabolous and holometabolous insects

Exquisite ligand stereoselectivity of a Drosophila juvenile hormone receptor contrasts with its broad agonist repertoire

Epigenetic modifications acetylation and deacetylation play important roles in juvenile hormone action

Genome sequences identify three families of Coleoptera as morphologically derived click beetles (Elateridae)

CREB-binding protein plays key roles in juvenile hormone action in the red flour beetle, Tribolium Castaneum

Multiple functions of CREB-binding protein during postembryonic development: identification of target genes

Gene Expression Dynamics in Major Endocrine Regulatory Pathways along the Transition from Solitary to Social Life in a Bumblebee, Bombus terrestris

Hypermetabolic Conversion of Plant Oil into Water: Endothermic Biochemical Process Stimulated by Juvenile Hormone in the European Firebug, Pyrrhocoris apterus L

Something "hairy" in juvenile hormone signaling for mosquito reproduction

Genetic Evidence for Function of the bHLH-PAS Protein Gce/Met As a Juvenile Hormone Receptor

Autonomous regulation of the insect gut by circadian genes acting downstream of juvenile hormone signaling